Flycatcher



Jan. 1', 1924 C. J. CSTERA FLYCATCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Filed Oct.

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u. m n@ @a C w@ m a Jari. 1, 1924 1,479,648

' C. J. CASTERA FLYCATCHER Filed Oct. 31. 1921 `3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Jan., l, i924 1,479,648

c. J. cAsTERA FLYCATCHER Filed Oct. 31. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedJan. 1, 1924.

PATENT orties.

CHARLES J. CASTERA, LOSVANGELES, CALIEORNIA.

FLYGATCHVER.

Application led October 31, 1921. Serial No. 511,630.

To all whom t may concern:

`Be it known that I, CHARLES J. CASTERA, a citizen of the UnitedIEntates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles andState of California, have invented new and useful Improvements inFlycatchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a fly catcher, the principal objects of :myinvention being to provide a device in the nature of a cabinet that isadapted to be positioned on a counter or show case and to equip saidcabinet with continuously operating means that will attract flies andcarry the same into a trap; to provide within the cabinet or housing acontainer that is adapted to receive the .flies after the same passthrough the trap;to construct the trame of .the device Vso that `it willreceive anumber ot removable panels, and which lat-ter may containadvertising cards or the like; to provide meansforcilluminating thepanels that are arranged on the sides and ends` of the vcabinet'orhousing; and further to provide a device of the character describedwhich, when properlyv constructed, presents a neat and inishedappearanceand which will ybe very' effective in performing its intended functions.

With the foregoing and other `objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill be hereinafter more'fully described and claimed and illustratedinthe vaecompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a iy. trap of my improvedconstruction.

F ig. 2 is a top plan view of the trap.

Fig. 3 is an, elevational view of a vibrating brush member that isutilized for directing the flies trom the endless carrier into the trap.Y

Fig. 4 in an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the endless beltor member that carries the lure -tor the fiies.

F ig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the sections of the endless belt.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of yone of the corners of the frame of thedevice.

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the brush member.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sec-tion taken through the center oic thetrap that receives the tlies from the endless belt and the .con- -tainerthat receives the iiies from the. trap.

F ig. 9is an elevational view of the means utilized for driving theendless lure carrying. belt.

Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe drivingmechanism that is arranged betweenthe motor and the endless belt forming apart ofthe fly catcher. f

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrateapractical embodiment ofthe invention, 10 designates a base upon whichis secured a substantially rectangularskeleton frame comprising cornerposts-11, intermediate side posts 12, uppersiderails 13, and upper endrails 14. Arranged 'between the upper side rails at points inset. fromthe end rails 14-are transversely 4disposed rails 15. Thespaces on theends ot the frame-thus'constructed between the corner .posts l11, thelspaces between the corner vposts andv the intermediate side posts l2,.the spaces between saidintermediate side posts' and .the spaces betweenthe upper end. rails 14 and transverse rails 15, are provided withremovable frames 16 in which are arranged attractive pictures oradvertising matter, andthus when the device is positioned on a` counterlor show case, Vitpresentsa sightly appearance, and the .flies caught bythe machine are entirelyv hid from view. i f

Extending between the. intermediate portions Vof the upper side rails 13and. between the transverse rails 15, is a series of transverselydisposed bars 17 that serve to prevent objects ytrom accidentallydropping intothe open space at the top of the cabinet or housing andonto the upper portion of the -endless belt .operating therein.

J ournaled on. suitable supports. within the cabinet or .housing is apair of transversely disposed shafts 18, and fixed on each shaftadjacent to its-ends are sprocket wheels 19, the outer edges orperipheries of which, between their .teeth 20, being curved inwardly toform depressions 21. Arranged for operation upon these pairs of sprocketwheels is an endless flexible member or. belt composed of chains, andeach chain comprising a series of links 22, the adjacent ends of whichare Vpivotally connected to each other by relatively short links 23,there being a pair of these short links between the ends of each pair ofchain links 22, and said shorter links beingiadapted to engage over theteeth 2O of the sprocket wheels 19,:r see Fig. 4. They intermediateportions of the chain 22 are curved inwardly so that their lower edgesbear in the depressionsy 21 in the sprocket wheels 19, and seated innotches 24 that are formed in the ends of links 22 above the pairs ofshort connecting` links 23, are the ends of transversely disposed rods25. Connecting the rods 25 of each pair of links 22 are elastic members26, and resting thereupon and supported by rods 25 is a concave plate27, preferably of thin sheet metal. s

Formed in the outer edges of each pair of links 22 and at pointsintermediate their ends are notches 28 which receive the ends of atransversely disposed rod 29, and retained in position by said lrod uponthe central portion of the corresponding plate 27 is a relativelynarrowtransversely disposed plate 30, the edges of which carryrelatively narrow channel-shaped members 3l in each of which is seated awick-like member 32 of iibrousmaterial, and which, when the device isset for operation, is saturated with a liquid substance, preferablysweet, ,and which will serve as a lure for iiies. rlhus each concaveplate 27 is provided, across its lower portion, with means that willlserve to attract flies and the like.

'lhe'means utilized for imparting movement to the endless belt, includesa small electric motor 33 that is positioned on base 10 adjacent to thecenter thereof, the connections to said motor passing through a suitableswitch 34 that is placed on the lower portion of oneend of the honsing,and said motor having associated with it an ordinary form of speedregulator 35. Carried by the shaft of motor 33 is a worm 36 that mesheswith a relatively large worm wheel 37, the latter being` fixed on ashaft 38 and which shaft is journaled 'in a bearing 39 that is locatedat the upper end of a standard 40. Projecting laterally from standard 40is an arm 41 on the outer end of which is formed a bearing 42 for ashaft 43, and the latter having fixed on one end a gear wheel 44 thatmeshes with a pinion 45 on shaft 38.

Gn the opposite end of shaft 43 is fixed a pin wheel 46, the teeth ofwhich engage in the apertures 47 of a` disc 48 that-.is fixed on shaft18. Thus as the motor 33 is operated, the train of gearing justdescribed will impart relatively slow rotary motion to shaft 18 and thewheels 19 fixed thereupon, and the endless belt supported by said wheels19 will slowly travel from one wheel to another with the overrunningportion of said endless belt occupying a substantially horizontalposition just'beneath the cross bars 17, and with the underrunningportion of said belt passing beneath the support'for motor 33.

Arranged in one'end of the cabinet or housing and adjacent to thatportion of the endless belt that passes from the top of the cabinetdownwardly into the lower portion thereof, is a structure comprising abottom @erases plate 49, end walls 50, and a curved inner plate 51,which latter is spaced apart a slight distance from the adjacent portionof the endless belt.

Pivotally connected to the upper portion of the curved inner end wall 51is a series of depending pins or fingers 52 that are designed to sweepover the top of the overrunning portion ofthe belt and brush therefromany flies that may tend to remain on the fibrous material 32 that issaturated with he lure. Arranged between the upper portions of the sidewalls 50 is a horizontally disposed section 53n of wire netting, theinner end of which extends downwardly over the top of the overrunningportion'of the endless belt a short distance away from the dependingfingers 52, and which arrangement provides a passageway l53 that leadsfrom the space directly above the overrunning portion of the beltupwardly and thence Y laterally into the chamber 54 between the upperend of the curved wall 51 and the reticulated member 53.

Arranged between the upper portions of the sidewalls 50 and beneaththereticulated member 53, is a pair of side plates 55 of irregular shapeand between which is arranged a series of curved sections 56 ofreticulated material, the same being spaced apart to form series ofconnected channels or passageways, and the ends of said sectionsofrecticulated material overlapping each other so to provide a tortuouspassageway or maze into which Athe flies pass irom chamber 54 and inwhich they are trapped.

The outer upper one of the reticulated members 56 is provided with aninwardly extending portion 57 that lies beneath the intermediate portionof section 53a' and directly over the inlet chamber or passageway 54.arranged between certain of the members 55 at the lower portion of thetrap or maze is an outlet opening 58 for the flies, and arranged beneathsaid opening against the side walls 50 are supports 59 for a pair oftransverse rods 60, one of which is movable toward the other and beingsupported for sliding movement upon rods 61 that are seated in one ofsaid rods 60 and pass through apertures in the other rod.

Supported by the rods 60 is the upper end of a container 62, preferablya paper bag, the open upper end of which is positioned directly belowoutlet opening 58 so as to receive the flies after they have passedthrough the trap or maze. Vhenever desired the rods 60 may be drawntoward each other to close the upper' end of the receptacle 62, and thelatter containing trapped flies may be removed from the device. l

Pivotally connected to the inner portions of the top side rails 13 arehorizontally disposed arms e3, the lower ends of which are curveddownwardly, and the forward ends threads serve as a transverse deflectorthat moves over the outer ends .of the curved plates 27, thereby causingany flies that may be resting thereupon to pass into the depressions insaid plates 27, and which depressions are occupied by the lurecontaining members 31..

The operation of my improved y catcher is as follows:

The rotary motion 4of the motor shaft is transmitted through the trainof gearing to one of the sets of wheels 19 carrying the endless belt,and the overrunning portion of the latter moves slowly along beneath theopening in the top of the cabinet, and which opene ing is provided withthe cross bars 17.

Flies attracted by the lure contained in the channel-shaped members 31will alight upon the surfaces of plates 27, and as the machine operatessaid flies will be slowly carried along until they reach' the section532L beneath the depending inner end of reticulated member 53.l Thepivotally mounted depending fingers 52 riding over the upper surfaces ofthe plates 27 will cause the flies to leave said plates, and as they flyupwardly the natural tendency for them will be to fly toward the nearestopening which is the passageway 54, and thus said flies will enter thetrap or maze comprising the reticulated members 56 between the plates55. From this trap or maze the flies will eventually pass downwardthrough outlet opening 58 into the container 62, and when a sufficientnumber of flies have accumulated in said container, the latter may beremoved from the machine after its upper end has been closed by drawingrods 60 together.

Arranged on the side and end rails 13 and 14 of the machine are brackets67 carrying electric lamps 68, the connections to which are controlledby a switch 69, and the lat-ter being preferably located on the lowerportion of one end of the cabinet or housing. These lights provide meanswhereby the illustrated cards or advertising matter contained in thepanels 16 may be' readily observed at night.

A fly catcher of my improved construction is of relatively simplestructure, presents a neat and finished appearance, is constructed withremovable panels that are adapted to receive cards bearing attractiveillustrations or advertising matter, may be operated with theexpenditure of comparatively little power, and provides veffective meansfor catching flies.

It will be understood that minor changes in size, form and constructionof the various parts of-myimproved fly catcher may be;.madev andvsubstituted forv those herein shown and described without departingfrom the spirit of' my invention, the scope of whichzis set forth in theappended claims.v

l claim as my invention:

1. In a fly trap, a housing, portions of the walls and top thereof beingprovided with removable panels, there being an opening in the top ofsaid housing, and means within said housing for attracting Vand catchingflies. i. f

2. Ina fly catcher, a housing, removable panels forming parts of thewalls and top of said housing which panels are adapted to receiveadvertising cards, electric lamps arranged on the upper portion of saidhousing, an endless flexible member arranged for operation within thehousing, a trap of reticulated material arranged adjacent to one end ofsaid endless flexible member, and a collapsible container adapted toreceive flies after the same pass through said trap.

3. In a fly catcher, a housing, removable panels forming parts of thewalls and top of said housing which panels are adapted to receiveadvertising cards, electric lamps arranged on the upper portion of saidhousing, an endless flexible member arranged for operation within thehousing, a trap of reticulated material arranged adjacent to one end ofsaid endless flexible member, a collapsible container adapted to receiveflies after the same pass. through the trap, and means for impartingcontinuous movement to said endless flexible member.

at. In a fly catcher, a housing, removable panels forming parts of thewalls and top of said housing which panels are adapted to receiveadvertising cards, electric lamps arranged on the upper portion of' saidhousing, an endless flexible member arranged `for operation within thehousing, a trap of reticulated material arranged adjacent to one end ofsaidendless flexible member, a collapsible container adapted to receiveflies after the same pass through said trap, a series of lure containingmembers carried by said endless flexible member, and means for impartingcontinuous movement to said endless exible member.

5. In a fly trap, an endless flexible member mounted for operation, saidendless flexible member including a series -of concave plates,channel-shaped lure containing members arranged on said plates, a trapadjacent to one end of said endless flexible member, and means arrangedfor vibratory movement adjacent to said trap for dislcdging flies fromthe lure containing members on said endless flexible member.

6. In a Hy-catehing machine, sprocket wheels arranged in space relation,endless chains trained about and operatively connecting said wheels,elastic members arranged in spanning relation to said chains, and lurecarrying members Carried by said elastic members.

7. ln a fly trap, an endless oonveyer formed at intervals Withdepressions, lure containing members secured to the oonveyer within thedepressions, a trap adjacent one end of the conveyer, means fordeflecting the flies on the Conveyer into said depressions, and meansfor dislodging the flies on the conveyer and members so that they aredirected to said trap.

8. In a Hy trap, an endless conveyer Mmes@ formed at intervals withdepressions, lure containing members secured to the oonveyer Within thedepressions, a trap adjacent one end of the conveyer, means Vfordefleoting the flies on the Vconveyer into said depressions7 said meanscomprising a plurality or" flexible members mounted for rockingmovement, and means for dislodging the flies on the conveyer or membersso that they are directed to said trap.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.V

CHARLES J. C-ASTERA.

